Despite his impressive track record, Bill Belichick will not be inducted as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Known for securing eight Super Bowl victories, six with the New England Patriots as head coach and two with the New York Giants as defensive coordinator, Belichick’s achievements are legendary.

According to a report from ESPN on Tuesday evening, Belichick did not garner the necessary 40 votes for immediate induction into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. However, with the opportunity to remain on the ballot for up to 20 years, his eventual enshrinement remains highly probable.

The Hall of Fame contacted Belichick on Friday afternoon to deliver the news, as noted by ESPN.

Currently serving as the head coach at North Carolina, Belichick expressed feelings of confusion and disappointment over the decision, as he fell short of the 80-percent vote threshold required by Hall of Fame committee members.

“Six Super Bowls isn’t enough?” a source close to Belichick remarked to ESPN. “What does a guy have to do?”

Another source blamed ‘politics’ for keeping Belichick out Canton. 

Bill Belichick has more Super Bowl titles (six) than any head coach in NFL history 

‘Politics kept him out,’ the source told ESPN. ‘He doesn’t believe this is a reflection on his accomplishments.’

The source did not reveal the specific ‘politics’ they were referring to. 

Belichick, who is second in NFL coaching wins behind only Don Shula, has declined comment and the Hall of Fame has yet to speak publicly on the issue. Likewise, his outspoken girlfriend, 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, has not commented on social media. 

A spokesperson for the Hall of Fame did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment on Tuesday evening. 

Football insiders were left dumbfounded by the decision, starting with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. 

‘Insane… don’t even understand how this could be possible,’ Mahomes wrote online. 

Long-time Houston Texans defensive end JJ Watt was equally stupefied. 

‘I can’t be reading this right,’ Watt wrote on X. ‘This has to be some knock-off Hall of Fame or something, it can’t be the actual NFL Hall of Fame.

‘There is not a single world whatsoever in which Bill Belichick should not be a First-Ballot Hall of Famer.’

Another former rival player, ESPN analyst and ex-Steelers safety Ryan Clark, believes Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history. 

‘Bill Belichick not being a first ballot Hall of Famer means that no coach should ever be,’ Clark wrote on X. ‘It means that the voters have decided there isn’t a coaching resume that warrants First Ballot consideration!

‘He is the GREATEST, most ACCOMPLISHED coach of all time! This is egregious!’

Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson attend Michael Rubin’s 2025 Fanatics Super Bowl Party

Belichick’s rival and former boss, Robert Kraft, is a Hall-of-Fame finalist this year 

The Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 will be named during Super Bowl week.

Interestingly, Patriots owner and rumored Belichick-rival Robert Kraft is a finalist for the Hall of Fame. Although the pair won six Super Bowls together, their relationship reportedly frayed over the years and Kraft warned the Atlanta Falcons against hiring Belichick in 2024, ESPN claimed at the time. 

A Patriots spokesperson later denied Kraft ever disparaged Belichick to Falcons owner Arthur Blank.  

As far as players, Super Bowl-winning quarterback Drew Brees and legendary receiver Larry Fitzgerald headline a group of four modern-era finalists entering their first year of eligibility.

Tight end Jason Witten and running back Frank Gore are also first-year candidates, while right tackle Willie Anderson, wideout Torry Holt, linebacker Luke Kuechly and kicker Adam Vinatieri are all back as finalists.

Six other returning finalists include quarterback Eli Manning, receiver Reggie Wayne, offensive guards Jahri Evans and Marshal Yandal, as well as safety Darren Woodson and edge rusher Terrell Suggs.